Head-to-head · Best Electric Fireplaces

Touchstone Sideline 50" (80004) vs Westinghouse 50" Electric Fireplace

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Touchstone Sideline 50" (80004) comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.7 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about homeowners who want a permanent, recessed wall fireplace with smart-home control and are willing to pay for a flush built-in finish — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Electric Fireplaces

Touchstone Sideline 50" (80004)

4.7

$549as of Jun 7

The Touchstone Sideline 50 is the wall-recessed electric fireplace most reviewers reach for first, and the reason is consistency: a clean flush-mount fit, a believable flame with adjustable speed and a fully independent ember bed, and smart-home control that actually works. It heats about 400 square feet, so treat it as supplemental warmth rather than a furnace. The trade-off for that polished built-in look is a price north of $600 and a relatively short menu of flame colors, but for a permanent install it is hard to beat.

Strengths

— Recessed or surface wall-mount installation fits standard 2x6 stud framing for a clean built-in look
— Three flame colors (orange, blue, blue-orange) with five brightness levels and a separate 10-color ember bed
— Heat and flame run independently, so you get ambiance year-round without warming the room

Watch-outs

— 1,500W / 5,000 BTU heater only covers about 400 sq ft, so it is a supplemental source, not a primary heater
— Only three flame colors where pricier units offer dozens of combinations
— No crackling sound effect to accompany the flames

$549 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Electric Fireplaces

Westinghouse 50" Electric Fireplace

4.5

$599as of May 29

The Westinghouse 50 is the budget smart wall fireplace that punches above its price. For around $399 it offers up to 144 flame-and-ember color combinations - more than any other unit here - plus Alexa/Google control, a thermostat, a 24-hour timer, and both log and crystal media sets. Its 5,110 BTU heater is squarely supplemental, and it has fewer deep expert reviews than the Touchstone line, but on features-per-dollar it is the value play for a wall install.

Strengths

— Up to 144 flame-and-ember color combinations - the widest color menu in this roundup
— Wall-mount or in-wall recessed installation flexibility
— Alexa and Google Home plus app and remote control at a budget price

Watch-outs

— 5,110 BTU heater is best for small spaces and zone heating, not large rooms
— Fewer published expert reviews than the Touchstone units
— Budget build is good but not as substantial as premium wall fireplaces

$599 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Touchstone Sideline 50" (80004)

Costs more than the freestanding Duraflame 3D and the budget Westinghouse 50", but its recessed fit and independent ember bed make it a more permanent, built-in upgrade; it cannot match the gas-like log realism of the Dimplex Revillusion RLG25 insert, and it covers a smaller footprint than the 3-sided Touchstone Chesmont.

Westinghouse 50" Electric Fireplace

The budget wall-mount pick - it undercuts the Touchstone Sideline 50 and Touchstone Chesmont on price while offering far more flame colors (up to 144 vs 3 on the Sideline), though it has fewer expert reviews and a less premium build; like those units it is a wall fireplace rather than a firebox insert like the Dimplex Revillusion RLG25 or a freestanding stove like the Duraflame 3D.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Touchstone Sideline 50" (80004)	Westinghouse 50" Electric Fireplace
Type	Recessed / wall-mount	Wall-mount / recessed
Heating Power	1,500W (2 settings)	750W / 1,500W
Heat Output	5,000 BTU	5,110 BTU
Coverage	Up to 400 sq ft	—
Flame Colors	3 (orange, blue, blue-orange), 5 brightness levels	Up to 144 combinations, 5 brightness, 5 speeds
Ember Bed	10-color, runs independently	—
Smart Control	Wi-Fi, Alexa, Google Home, app + remote	Alexa, Google Home, app + remote
Dimensions	50.4" W x 21.5" H x 5.5" D	50" W x 15.75" H x 5.5" D
Thermostat	—	Adjustable 62-82F
Timer	—	24-hour

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